Is Ultra Ball worth grading?
Pokémon · Brilliant Stars · 186/172 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Ultra Ball brings $55.12 versus $16.16 raw — a $38.96 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.23) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $16.16
- PSA 10
- $55.12
- PSA 9
- $21.23
- Gem premium
- 3.4×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $55.12 | +$13.96 | −$11.04 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $21.23 | −$19.93 | −$44.93 | −$145 |
| PSA 8 | $18.34 | −$22.82 | −$47.82 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $16.16 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $29.70 | −$36.46 |
| 50% | $38.17 | −$27.99 |
| 75% | $46.65 | −$19.51 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $55.12 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.97 | −$28.15 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $15.00 | −$40.12 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Ultra Ball — FAQ
Is Ultra Ball worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ultra Ball brings $55.12 versus $16.16 raw — a $38.96 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.23) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Ultra Ball worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ultra Ball (Brilliant Stars 186/172) sells for about $55.12 versus $16.16 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.4× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ultra Ball?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $55.12, ahead of CGC 10 at $26.97. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ultra Ball need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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